Our district is moving in the right direction, ensuring that all students receive a quality education that prepares them for success in college and life. A critical element of delivering on our promise to educate students is maintaining integrity and principled, ethical behavior.

During the 2011-2012 school year, we implemented an online ethics training class that all employees were required to complete. We enhanced our ethics program for the 2012-13 school year to ensure that all employees continued to adhere to our organizational values and ethical standards.

Preserving our good name requires a commitment to hard work, honesty and trust. Understanding what is appropriate and doing what is right are critical to maintaining a reputation of excellence, and we all must do our part. When there is misconduct in the workplace, we all have a responsibility to report it. We all have a responsibility to exercise firm, ethical behavior at work as well. When trust has been violated, it hurts us all, and we jeopardize everything we’ve worked so hard to achieve. Our district is moving in a positive direction. By demonstrating our commitment to superior standards and integrity, we prove to our stakeholders, our community and ourselves that we are worthy of our stellar reputation.

Do The Right Thing

Reporting unethical behavior is the right thing to do. Corruption, workplace bullying, employee theft, falsifying documents and lying should never be ignored. So when you see these, or any other forms of misconduct, don’t succumb to peer pressure. If you are uncomfortable speaking to the perpetrator directly, do the right thing—report it.

Workplace ethics don’t just apply to everyone else. They apply to you too. If you are unsure whether or not your actions violate company policy, ask yourself the following questions:

• Is it legal?

• Is it in sync with APS’s core goals and values?

• Will I be comfortable and guilt-free if I do it?

• Would I do it if others were watching?

• Would I feel okay if someone did it to me?

Hesitating before answering, or answering “no” to any of these questions, could mean that the behavior is unethical. If you remain unsure, talk with your principal or supervisor.